Hog feeder



c. l. RINGER HOG FEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1938 lAug., 8, 1939.

c. RINGER 2,368,745

HOG FEEDER Filed Sept. 6, 1938 2 Sheets-SheetA 2 56e Zzfz Py Z gkzyer ATTO R N EYS Patented Aug. s, 1939 2,168,745

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE HOG FEEDER Chauncey I. Ringer, Highland, Ohio Application September 6, 1938, Serial No. 228,651

4 Claims. (Cl. 119-54) The invention relates to a feeder and more Figure 2 is a side elevation partly broken away. especially to hog feeders for ground feed. Figure 3 is an end elevation of a modification. The primary object of the invention is the Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line provision of a feeder of this character, wherein 4-4 of Figure 2 locking in the direction of the 5 ground feed is placed therein and through movarrows. 5 able walls at opposite sides of the body of the Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line feeder agitators are set in motion so as to avoid 5-5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the solidifying of the contents of such feeder and arrows. thereby assuring the delivery or the flow of the -Figure 6 is a perspective view of the agitator 10 feed evenly from the body and thus making it construction. l0 constantly accessible to hogs for the feeding Similar reference characters indicate correof the same. sponding parts throughout the several views in Another object of the invention is the provision the drawings. of a feeder of this character, wherein the con- Referring to the drawings in detail, the feeder struction of the same is novel in its entirety in comprises a pair of spaced parallel base sills I0 l5 that the hogs when feeding operate the agitators of the required length, width and height and has interiorly of the hopper of the feeder so that the built therewith a feed trough frame II in which feed can not bridge, cake or become in a condiis removably counterseated a feed trough I2 preftion to clog the free flow thereof into the feeding erably made from sheet metal, permanently or trough and thus stall or block accessibility of the separably fastened in place. 2Q

feed in the use of the feeder. At opposite ends of the trough and bracketed A further object of the invention is the proto the sills Ill are end pieces I3, the brackets bevision of a feeder of this character, wherein the ing indicated at I4, and such pieces are disposed agitator members are hung from a rocking shaft in perpendicular or upright position, while built by arms projecting therefrom andare connected with these end pieces is a permanent cover or 25 with a tilting hopper for the feed so that a canopy top I5 having an opening for a lid I6 positive flow of the latter will be assured and such slidably fitted with said cover or top I5 through feed automatically effected. the use of guide pieces I1, the lid I6 being pro- A further object of the invention is the provided at one `end withv handles 'I8 for manual vision of a feeder of this character, wherein the sliding of this lid to closed or opened positions. 30

feed trough is divided into a plurality of pockets, The trough I2 has therein transversely disthese being selectively closed or opened at the posed dividing pieces or partitions I9 separating will of the user of the feeder and when closed it into a plurality of compartments or pockets 2e will be protected from rain, snow, sleet or the like at opposite sides of a central longitudinal clearto relieve the wetting of the feed at such time, ance 2| within the trough as effected by the 35 A still further object of the invention is the dividing pieces or partitions I9, thereby presentprovision of a feeder of this character, which is ing individual feeding pockets for hogs. comparatively simple in its construction, thor- Arranged elevated with respect to the trough oughly reliable and efficient in operation, auto- I2 and its longitudinal center is a horizontally matically operated, convenient for the feeding disposed shaft 22, being journaled in bearings 40 of hogs, strong, durable, and inexpensive to 23 carried by the end pieces I3 and independently manufacture. swingable on this shaft 22 is a pair of feed hop- With these and other objects in view, the inpers 24 arranged end to end and spaced from vention consists in the features of construction, each other by a separator 25 intermediate with 4.5 combination and arrangement of parts as will be respect to the end pieces I3. These hoppers 24,

hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in which are open at their bottoms, deliver through the accompanying drawings, which disclose the gravity feed into the trough I2, that is to say, the preferred and modified forms of embodiment of pockets or compartments 20, which are accessible the invention and pointed out in the claims hereexteriorly to hogs for feeding of the same.

unto appended. The shaft 22 is equipped with laterally eXtend- 50 In the accompanying drawings.: ing double and single arm hangers 25 and 21, Figure 1 is a top plan View of the feeder conrespectively, alternately. The double and single ,/'structed in accordance with the invention showarm hangers 26 and 21 swingably support reing a top lid, by full lines in closed position and versely curved downwardly directed gratings conby dotted lines in partially open position. stituting agitators 28 while loosely contacting 55 with these at their lower ends are coupling yokes 29 fxedly held secured to opposite sides of each hopper 24. The shaft 22 is held in a rigid position by the bearings 23 carried on the end pieces. The agitators 28 are preferably made from heavy steel welded fabric and are suspended from the double and single arm hangers 26 and 21. Each hopper 24 rocks on the shaft 22 as hogs feed on opposite sides of the feeder and such hopper is susceptible of a limited swing causing the agitators 28 to move through the feed resulting in the breaking up thereof and at the same time forcing a constant ow of feed into the trough I2.`

The hopper is moved by the animal when nosing into the trough I2.

Exteriorly on the side walls of the hopper are drop doors 30, which, when in lowered position, close individually the pockets 2D. On raising the doors 30, these will become latched with keepers 3| thus holding the same in open raised position giving free access to the trough I2 and the pockets 20 therein.

'I'he lid I6, on the opening thereof, enables the lling of the hoppers 24 with feed or other contents.

In Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings there is shown a slight modification wherein but a single hopper 32 is employed in the feeder, this being in substitution for two or more hoppers as may be installed in the said feeder.

What is claimed is:

l. A feeder of the character described comprising an immovably supported feed trough, a downwardly tapered vertically swingable hopper above and communicating with said trough, a horizontally arranged shaft swingingly supporting said hopper, hanger arms on said shaft within said hopper and extending toward opposite side walls of said hopper, curved fabric agitators loosely suspended by said hanger arms at opposite sides of said shaft, and means interiorly of the hopper and active upon the said agitators to impart movement thereto and rendering the said agitators active upon contents of the hopper.

2. A feeder of the character described comprising an immovably supported feed trough, a downwardly tapered vertically swingable hopper above and communicating with said trough, a horizontally arranged shaft swingingly supporting said hopper, hanger arms on said shaft within said hopper and extending toward opposite side walls of said hopper, curved fabric agitators loosely suspended by said hanger arms at opposite sides of said shaft, means interiorly of the hopper and active upon the said agitators to impart movement thereto and rendering the said agitators active upon contents of the hopper, and pockets formed in said trough and accessible selectively at opposite sides of the hopper.

3. A feeder of the character described comprising an immovably supported feed trough, a downwardly tapered vertically swingable hopper above and communicating with said trough, a horizontally arranged shaft swingingly supporting said hopper, hanger arms on said shaft within said hopper and extending toward opposite side walls of said hopper, curved fabric agitators loosely suspended by said hanger arms at opposite sides of said shaft, means interiorly of the hopper and active upon the said agitators to impart movement thereto and rendering the said agitators active upon contents of the hopper, pockets formed in said trough and accessible selectively at opposite sides of the hopper, and opening and closing lids arranged with said hopper for the respective pockets.

4. A feeder of the character described comprising an immovably supported feed trough, a downwardly tapered vertically swingable hopper above and communicating with said trough, a horizontally arranged shaft swingingly supporting said hopper, hanger arms upon said shaft within said hopper and extending toward opposite side walls of said hopper, curved fabric agitators loosely suspended by said hanger arms at opposite sides of said shaft, means interiorly of the hopper and active upon the said agitators to impart movement thereto and rendering the said agitators active upon contents of the hopper, pockets formed in said trough and accessible selectively at opposite sides of the hopper, opening and closing lids arranged with said hopper for the respective pockets, and means for the fastening of a selected lid in an open position.

CHAUNCEY I. RINGER. 

